Document information management system

ABSTRACT

A document information management system in which a search-engine-compatible interface unit makes a word in a document displayed on the screen to be specified, transfers the specified word to a search engine as a keyword to be used in the search engine, receives a search result from the search engine, and displays the search result on the screen, while a browser-compatible interface unit performs a search (a keyword search and/or global search) by using the keyword transferred from a browser and transfers a search result to the browser.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/400,229, filed Apr. 10, 2006, which is a continuation of co-pendingU.S. application Ser. No. 10/668,973, filed Sep. 24, 2003, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/126,588, filed Apr. 22,2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,658,408, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 09/305,473, filed May 6, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No.6,381,593, and claims priority to Japanese Application Nos. 10-126515,filed May 8, 1998, and 10-231845, filed Aug. 18, 1998. The entirecontents of the above-identified applications and patents areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a document information managementsystem enabling search of documents only by specifying an arbitrary wordas a keyword in a hypertext or a non-hypertext document displayed on ascreen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventionally, a form of a document commonly used in the world hasgenerally been a paper document, but progress of the Internet orintranet has given a birth to a hypertext as an electronic documentwhich can compete for the first time against the paper document. Thishypertext document is a document written in HTML in a narrow sense, andincludes all the electronic documents which can link between documentssuch as PDF documents by Adbe and a portion of an SGML document by CALS(namely, between a button comprising a particular word, a text, a symbolor graphics and a document) in a broad sense.

Specifically, the hypertext is a collection of linked texts(electronified documents) and is the basic concepts for multimediasoftware with which texts hierarchically related to each other cansimultaneously be referred from multiple sites to in an arbitrary orderthrough a link structure. Therefore, each document of this hypertextincludes information for forming the link structure (namely, informationas a hypertext) in addition to information visually provided to users.

By the way, in the field of computer technology, a search engine isprovided as a means of searching for a document linked to a particularword (keyword) from vast number of undefined documents. It should benoted that in the conventional type of search engine a keyword is notentered in a document but it is entered in a particular dialog box.

However, although there are many advantages in the hypertext, a jump canbe made only to a linked page (document), and so, when a user wants tohave information related to any word not linked to some other documents,it is necessary to actuate a search engine or the like and perform asearch (a keyword search or a global search), which makes the operationcomplicated, and also linkage among documents is not easy therefore itis not always easy to use the hypertext.

In the conventional type of hypertext, an operation with one button canbe linked only to one document (page), which does not allow a pluralityof documents to be referred to with one button. Especially, the Intranetdocuments are highly specialized so that there may exist a plurality ofinformation that the user wants to refer to with one button, henceconvenience of use and workability are not sufficient for the situation.

In the conventional type of search engine, a user interface is ofinferior performance as compared to a hypertext and the operating methodis also different, and so, insufficient workability and convenience arefound in actuation of a search engine and performance of a search duringoperation of the hypertext. Especially, in a browser function fordisplaying and operating a hypertext on a screen, it is general tooperate only with a pointing device such as a mouse, so that entry of akeyword into a dialog box of the search engine through a keyboarddisturbs the flow of work.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to get, for the purpose ofsolving the problems, enhanced convenience in document informationmanagement as well as in a document search, improved operability of akeyword search, and further promoted workability when a search isperformed through a hypertext by performing a search (a keyword searchand/or a global search) with any word which is not linked to otherdocuments as a keyword through a clicking operation thereon and enablingjumping from the clicked word to a page as an object to be searched likethat with a button in a hypertext.

In the document information management system according to the presentinvention, a search-engine-compatible interface unit makes a word in adocument displayed on the screen to be specified, transfers thespecified word to a search engine as a keyword to be used in the searchengine, receives a search result from the search engine, and displaysthe search result on the screen. On the other hand, a browser-compatibleinterface unit performs a search by using the keyword transferred from abrowser and transfers a search result to the browser. Thus, byperforming a search (a keyword search and/or a global search) with aword which is not liked to any document as a keyword through a clickingoperation on the word, and enabling jumping from the clicked word to apage as an object to be searched like that with a button of a hypertext,it is possible to improve convenience in document information managementas well as in a document search.

In the document information management system according to anotheraspect of the present invention, a search-engine-compatible interfaceunit makes a word in a document displayed on the screen to be specified,actuates a search engine and make the engine perform a search with thespecified word as a keyword to be used in the search engine, receives asearch result from the search engine and displays the result on thescreen. Thus, by performing a search with a word which is not liked toany document as a keyword through a clicking operation on the word, andenabling jumping from the clicked word to a page as an object to besearched like that with a button of a hypertext, it is possible toimprove convenience in document information management as well as in adocument search.

Other objects and features of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing a document information management systemaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention represented in theclaim;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a concrete example of hardwareconfiguration of the document information management system according toEmbodiment 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of the document information managementsystem according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a display example of a pop-up menuaccording to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 5 is a view showing a document information management systemaccording to Embodiment 2 of the present invention represented in theclaim;

FIG. 6 is a schematic flow chart of the document information managementsystem according to Embodiment 2;

FIG. 7 is a schematic flow chart of a document information managementsystem according to Embodiment 3;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a concrete example of processingin steps S702 to S705 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a display example of a keywordaccording to Embodiment 3;

FIG. 10 is a schematic flow chart of a document information managementsystem according to Embodiment 4;

FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B are explanatory views showing how a word isidentified by a search-engine-compatible interface unit according toEmbodiment 5;

FIG. 12 is a schematic flow chart of a document information managementsystem according to Embodiment 6;

FIG. 13 is a schematic flow chart of a document information managementsystem according to Embodiment 7;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing an example of how to specify(identify) search criteria and output criteria through a mouse operationin Embodiment 7;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing an example of how to specify(identify) search criteria and output criteria through a mouse operationin Embodiment 7;

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing an example of how to specify(identify) search criteria and output criteria through a mouse operationin Embodiment 7;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing an example of how to specify(identify) search criteria and output criteria through a mouse operationin Embodiment 7; and

FIG. 18 is an explanatory view showing an example of how to specify(identify) search criteria and output criteria through a mouse operationin Embodiment 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed description is made hereinafter for the document informationmanagement system according to the present invention in the order ofEmbodiment 1 to Embodiment 7 with reference to the accompanied drawings.

The document information management system according to Embodiment 1 isa system for getting enhanced convenience in document informationmanagement as well as in a document search, improved operability of asearch, and further promoted workability when a search is performedthrough a hypertext by using a document displayed on the screen of abrowser as a front end of a search engine and displaying a search resultby the search engine on the screen of the browser.

FIG. 1 shows the document information management system according toEmbodiment 1 represented in the claim which comprises at least onedatabase or a filing unit (described only as the database hereinafter tomake description simpler) 101 for storing therein a plurality ofdocument files comprising a hypertext document written in hypertextlanguage such as HTML and/or a non-hypertext document prepared with anapplication such as word processor, a browser 102 having a browsingfunction for displaying and operating the hypertext document and thenon-hypertext document on a screen, and a search engine 103 having asearch-engine function of searching for a corresponding document throughthe database (or the filing unit) 101 according to a specified keyword.

It should be noted that the browser 102 has a search-engine-compatibleinterface unit 104 for specifying a word in a document displayed on thescreen, transferring the specified word to the search engine 103 as akeyword to be used in the search engine 103, receiving a search resultfrom the search engine 103, and displaying the search result on thescreen. Herein, the browser 102 receives a list for a pop-up menu fromthe search engine 103 (browser-compatible interface unit 105) as asearch result by the search (keyword search or/and global search), anddisplays the pop-up menu in a space adjacent to the specified word.

The search engine 103 has a browser-compatible interface unit 105 forperforming a search by using the keyword transferred from the browser102 (to be precise search-engine-compatible interface unit 104) andtransferring a search result to the browser 102 (to be precisesearch-engine-compatible interface unit 104). Herein, the search engine103 prepares a list for a pop-up menu and transfers the list to thesearch-engine-compatible interface unit 104.

FIG. 2 shows a concrete example of hardware configuration of thedocument information management system according to Embodiment 1, inwhich a plurality of Web servers 201 connected to a network such as theIntranet can be used as databases 101. This Web server 201 has alarge-capacity hard disk device for storing the documents (hypertextdocuments and non-hypertext documents) to be used in the system.

As the browser 102, a terminal unit 202 such as a personal computer withbuilt-in application software for realizing a browser function can beused. This terminal unit 202 has at least a display for displaying adocument thereon, a pointing device such as a mouse for operating thescreen, and a communication unit for carrying out communications througha network Net. Of course, the search-engine-compatible interface unit104 is incorporated in the terminal unit 202 as one function ofapplication software for realizing a browser function. A number ofterminal units 202 is not particularly specified, and so it is needlessto say that a plurality of terminal units 202 can be provided on thenetwork Net as shown in the figure.

As the search engine 103, a terminal unit 203 such as a personalcomputer with built-in application software for realizing a searchengine function can be used. This terminal unit 203 is connected to thenetwork Net, and a plurality of units may be provided. One terminal unitcan also be shared for the terminal unit 202 as the browser 102 and theterminal unit 203 as the search engine 103. More specifically, theapplication software for realizing the search engine function may beincorporated in the terminal unit 202 with the built-in applicationsoftware for realizing the browser function. Of course, thebrowser-compatible interface unit 105 is incorporated in the terminalunit 203 (together with the search engine 103) as one function ofapplication software for realizing a browser function.

Description is made for the operation based on the configurationdescribed above with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows a schematic flowchart of the document information management system according toEmbodiment 1. In Embodiment 1, when a keyword is inputted through thebrowser 102, the browser-compatible interface unit 105 actuates thesearch engine 103, and a search with the keyword is started.

At first, the browser 102 displays a document on the screen (S301). Thesearch-engine-compatible interface unit 104 starts its operation in thisstate.

When a word is identified (specified) through a mouse operation of theterminal unit 202 (S302), the search-engine-compatible interface unit104 recognizes the word as a keyword (S303), transfers the keyword tothe search engine 103 (S304), and displays the recognized keyword(S305). Identification (specification) of a word herein is performed,for example, by clicking the second mouse button in order todifferentiate the above processing from processing of the hypertextdocument. The keyword is provided in a reverse video or is underlined sothat it can be discriminated from other words.

On the other hand, when the browser-compatible interface unit 105 of thesearch engine 103 receives a keyword from the search-engine-compatibleinterface unit 104 of the browser 102 it actuates the search engine 103and sets the keyword in a keyword-entry item of the search engine 103(S351). Herein, the browser-compatible interface unit 105, although itis a part of the application for the search engine 103, always staysresident on the terminal unit 203 and also plays a role as a trigger toactuate the main system of the search engine 103 when the keyword istransferred from the search engine 103.

When the keyword is set in step S351, the search engine 103 executes asearch operation with the set keyword (S352). It should be noted thatthe search with the keyword in this case is performed based on theassumption that an object to be searched by the search engine 103 (thedatabase 101 to be searched) is previously set and specified. Therefore,a search can be performed across all the databases 101 connected to thenetwork Net as objects to be searched through setting or specificationthereof, and can also be performed across only a particular database 101as an object to be searched. Setting and specification of the database101 as an object to be searched may be carried out with the browser 102although it is not mentioned herein.

Then, the browser-compatible interface unit 105 prepares a list for apop-up menu from a search result with the keyword (S353), and transfersthe prepared list to the browser 102 (S354). It should be noted thatdocument names having been searched and URLs (addresses) for thosedocuments are described on the list.

When the search-engine-compatible interface unit 104 of the browser 102receives a list from the browser-compatible interface unit 105 itdevelops the list to a hypertext and overwrites (displays) the list in aspace adjacent to the keyword of the original document as a pop-up menu(S306). It should be noted that FIG. 4 shows a display example of apop-up menu 402 appearing on the screen 401 of the browser 102.

When the user identifies a desired document out of the pop-up menu asindicated by the cursor 403 in FIG. 4 through the mouse operation, thesearch-engine-compatible interface unit 104 notifies the URL(identification of the document) of the corresponding document describedon the list to the browser 102 (S307). The browser 102 accesses thedatabase 101 (Web server 201) with a document in the linked addressstored therein according to the URL, and requests the database 101 totransfer the source code of the corresponding document (S308).

The database 101 having received the request from the browser 102 totransfer the source code transfers the source code of the correspondingdocument to the browser 102 (S391).

The browser 102 after receiving the source code develops the code to ahypertext document or a non-hypertext document (application document),and displays either of the documents on the screen (S309).

In accordance with Embodiment 1 as described above, a search isperformed by using a word which is not linked to other documents as akeyword by clicking on the word, and it is possible to jump from theclicked word to a page as an object to be searched, which is just likethe operation with a button of a hypertext. Therefore, it is possible toenhance convenience in document information management as well as in adocument search, improve operability of a keyword search, and furtherpromote workability when a search is performed through a hypertext. Inother words, it is possible to use a document displayed on the screen ofa browser 102 as a front end of the search engine 103 and display asearch result by the search engine 103 on the screen of the browser 102.

It should be noted that the browser-compatible interface unit 105 can berealized by rewriting API (Application Programming Interface) of theexisting search engine 103. Also, a search-engine-compatible interfaceunit 104 of the browser 102 can be realized by being added to theexisting browser as plug-in software.

The document information management system according to Embodiment 2 isan example having the same effect as that of Embodiment 1 in which theexisting search engine 103 not having a browser-compatible interfaceunit 105 is used. Namely, in the document information management systemaccording to Embodiment 1, the browser 102 has thesearch-engine-compatible interface unit 104 and the search engine 103has the browser-compatible interface unit 105, through which thedocument appearing on the screen of the browser 102 is usable as a frontend of the search engine 103, but in Embodiment 2, by expanding thefunction of the search-engine-compatible interface unit 104 of thebrowser 103, the existing search engine 103 without a browser-compatibleinterface unit 105 incorporated therein can be used.

It should be noted that an example of basic hardware configuration isthe same as that in Embodiment 1, so that description is made hereinonly for the different sections.

FIG. 5 shows a the document information management system according toEmbodiment 2 represented in the claim which comprises at least onedatabase or a filing unit (described only the database hereinafter tomake description simpler) 101 for storing therein a plurality ofdocument files comprising a hypertext document written in a hypertextlanguage such as HTML and/or a non-hypertext document prepared with anapplication such as word processor, a browser 102 having a browsingfunction for displaying and operating the hypertext document andnon-hypertext document on a screen, and a search engine 103 having asearch-engine function of searching for a corresponding document throughthe database 101 according to a specified keyword.

It should be noted that the browser 102 has a search-engine-compatibleinterface unit 106 for specifying a word in a document displayed on thescreen, actuating the search engine 103 to make the engine perform asearch with the specified word as a keyword to be used in the searchengine 103, receiving a result of the search from the search engine 103,and displaying the search result on the screen.

Description is made for the operation based on the configurationdescribed above with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 shows a schematic flowchart of the document information management system according toEmbodiment 2. In Embodiment 2, when receiving a keyword, the browser 102actuates the search engine 103, and a search with the keyword isstarted.

At first, the browser 102 displays a document on the screen (S601). Thesearch-engine-compatible interface unit 106 starts its operation in thisstate.

When a word is identified (specified) through a mouse operation of theterminal unit 202 (S602), the search-engine-compatible interface unit106 recognizes the word as a keyword (S603), and actuates the searchengine 103 (S604). Herein, the actuated search engine 103 transfers ascreen for entering a keyword to the search-engine-compatible interfaceunit 106 as processing executable on the system (S651).

Even if the search-engine-compatible interface unit 106 receives thekeyword entering screen from the search engine 103 it does not displaythis screen (namely, the processing of displaying the screen isskipped), but transfers the keyword recognized in step S603 to thesearch engine 103 (S605), and displays the recognized keyword on thescreen (S606). Identification (specification) of a word herein isperformed, for example, by clicking the second mouse button in order todifferentiate the above processing from processing of the hypertextdocument. The keyword is provided in a reverse video or is underlined sothat it can be discriminated from other words.

On the other hand, when the search engine 103 receives a keyword fromthe search-engine-compatible interface unit 106 it performs theprocessing of a search with the received keyword (S652). It should benoted that the search with the keyword in this case is performed basedon the assumption that an object to be searched by the search engine 103(the database 101) is previously set and specified. Therefore, a searchcan be performed across all the databases 101 connected to the networkNet as objects to be searched through setting or specification thereof,and can also be performed across only a particular database 101 as anobject to be searched. Setting and specification of the database 101 asan object to be searched may be carried out with the browser 102although it is not mentioned herein.

Then the search engine 103 transfers a result of the search to thesearch-engine-compatible interface unit 106 (S653).

While the search-engine-compatible interface unit 106 cuts out, whenreceiving the keyword-search result, the button from the search resultto prepare a list for a pop-up menu (S607), develops the list to ahypertext, and overwrites (displays) the list in a space adjacent to thekeyword of the original document as a pop-up menu (S608).

When the user identifies a desired document out of the pop-up menuthrough the mouse operation, the search-engine-compatible interface unit106 notifies the URL (identification of the document) of thecorresponding document described on the list to the browser 102 (S609).The browser 102 accesses the database 101 (Web server 201) with adocument in the linked address stored therein according to the URL, andrequests the database 101 to transfer the source code of thecorresponding document (S610).

The database 101 having received the request from the browser 102 totransfer the source code transfers the source code of the correspondingdocument to the browser 102 (S691).

When the browser 102 receives the source code it develops the code to ahypertext document or a non-hypertext document (application document),and displays either of the documents on the screen (S611).

In accordance with Embodiment 2 as described above, in addition to thesame effect as that in Embodiment 1, the existing search engine 103 canbe used as it is, which makes it easy to apply the invention to theexisting system, and the convenience of use can further be improved.

In the document information management system according to Embodiment 3,a document file for a document displayed on the screen and used forspecifying a keyword by the browser has a word table prepared bypreviously cutting out words included in the document file. Thesearch-engine-compatible interface unit selects in the documentdisplayed on the screen a plurality of expanded character strings eachobtained by adding characters or character strings before and behind acharacter pointed by a cursor thereto, compares the selected strings tothe words in the word table added to the document to evaluate thestrings, and identifies an optimal word which can be assumed as the onebeing pointed by the cursor as a keyword to be used in the searchengine.

The document information management system according to the presentinvention requires a function of identifying a word specified in thebrowser (search-engine-compatible interface unit), but this function ofidentifying a word can be realized in various methods, so that, a methodis not particularly defined in Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2. Therefore,in Embodiment 3, the function of identifying a word preferable to thedocument information management system is explained concretely.

It should be noted that the basic configuration and the operationthereof are the same as those in Embodiment 1, so that detaileddescription is made herein only for the different sections.

By the way, it is not easy to identify a word in a document such as theone written in Japanese. In such a case the method of identifying a wordincludes a method of preparing a particular document structurepreviously produced according to a use and a method of using an existingdocument structure. Herein, the document structure for the browser 102of the document information management system according to the presentinvention makes it easy to identify a word by using a document (ahypertext document or a non-hypertext document) having a word tableprepared by previously cutting out words included in a document file.

Added to a document file handled in the document information managementsystem according to Embodiment 3 is a word table prepared by previouslycutting out words in a document file. When a global search is to beperformed across any document in Japanese, Chinese, or Korean languageas an object to be searched, an index file such as a character elementtable and a word table is added to the document to be searched.Therefore, all of the documents handled in the system has a word tableadded thereto respectively, and this word table functions as a wordtable used for identifying a word in the document on the screen of thebrowser 102 and functions as an index file used for a global search inthe document to be searched.

The preparation of the word table will be carried out as follows withterminal units 202, 203 and a Web server 201 connected to the networkNet.

At first, words are cut out of a document registered anew by using atechnique such as morpheme analysis at the point of time when a prepareddocument is registered or during the time zone such as night time whenthe document information management system is not used, then, a wordtable is prepared with the cut-out words, and the word table is added tothe original document file, and the rewritten data is registered.

The processing as described above is always carried out, which allowsword tables to be added to all the document files existing in thedocument information management system according to Embodiment 3.

Description is made for the operation based on the configurationdescribed above with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 shows a schematic flowchart of the document information management system according toEmbodiment 3. In Embodiment 3, when a keyword is identified by thebrowser 102, the browser-compatible interface unit 105 actuates thesearch engine 103, and a search with the keyword is started.

At first, the browser 102 displays a document on the screen (S701). Thesearch-engine-compatible interface unit 104 starts its operation in thisstate.

When a character is identified (specified) through a mouse operation ofthe terminal unit 202 (S702), the search-engine-compatible interfaceunit 104 cuts out a character string obtained by adding some charactersbefore and after the character thereto (adjacent character string)(S703), compares the cut-out character string to the word table (S704),cuts out the character string coincident with any word in the word tableas a word, and identifies the word (S705).

Herein, a concrete example of processing in steps S702 to S705 is shownwith reference to FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 8, for example, a cursor 801is moved to an arbitrary character (herein a character “A” in the word“MARKED”) in the document displayed on the screen, a mouse button isclicked, and the character (character “A”) at the position of the cursoris specified. The character at the position of the cursor specified asdescribed above is identified as an identified character 702A in stepS702 (Refer to FIG. 7). It should be noted that identification of a wordherein is performed, for example, by clicking the second mouse button inorder to differentiate the above processing from processing of thehypertext document.

Then, a character string obtained by adding some characters before andafter the identified character thereto (adjacent character string) iscut out. It is conceivable that there are various methods as the methodof cutting out a character, but there is the simplest one in whichpunctuation marks before and after an identified character are decidedas identifiers and a character string between the punctuation marks canbe cut out as an adjacent character string. In this case, the adjacentcharacter string cut-out in step S703 is as follows: “when a pluralityof buttons are marked a plurality of pages are outputted onto thedisplay or to the printer.” as indicated by the reference numeral 703Ain FIG. 7.

Then, the adjacent character string is compared with the words in theword table, and the character string coincident with any word in theword table is cut out as a word, and the word is identified. Thisidentification of a word can be carried out as follows.

1) A character string “MA” obtained by adding one character before thespecified character “A” is decided as a temporary word, and comparisonis made as to whether there is any word coinciding with this temporaryword in the word table or not, and when it is determined that there is acoinciding word in the word table, the temporary word is identified as aword.

2) When it is determined that there is no coinciding word in the wordtable, a character string “AR” obtained by adding one character behindthe specified character “A” is decided as a temporary word, andcomparison is made as to whether there is any word coinciding with thistemporary word in the word table or not, and when it is determined thatthere is the coinciding word, the temporary word is identified as aword.

3) When it is determined that there is no coinciding word therein, acharacter string “MAR” obtained by adding one character before and afterthe specified character “A” is decided as a temporary word, andcomparison is made as to whether there is any word coinciding with thistemporary word in the word table or not, and when it is determined thatthere is the coincident word therein, the temporary word is identifiedas a word.

Thereafter and on, characters are added in the same manner as describedabove, and the processing is repeated until the cut-out character stringis coincident with any word in the word table or until ‘the cut-outcharacter string’ becomes the same as ‘the adjacent character string’.

Herein, a word “MARK” is identified as indicated by the referencenumeral 705A in FIG. 7 during the identification of a word in step S705.

In English language the words in a sentence are separated by a space, sothat a character string sandwiched between spaces can without difficultybe considered as a word. However, in languages like Japanese, Chinese orKorean, words in a sentence are not separated by space as in English.Therefore, in the documents written in these languages, it is difficultto decide where a word starts and where it ends in a sentence. In theabove described method, a character is added before or behind aspecified character, so that, a stage is reached when a word having ameaning is formed and the word coincides with a word in the word table.Though an English language document is shown in FIG. 8 forsimplification in explanation, this method is more effective forextracting a word from the documents written in Japanese, Chinese orKorean languages.

The identified word “MARK” is recognized as a keyword in step S706 ofFIG. 7, and the keyword is transferred to the search engine 103. Therecognized keyword is also displayed on the screen in step S707. FIG. 9shows an example of display of a keyword. The keyword is provided in areverse video or is underlined so that it can be distinguished fromother words.

On the other hand, when the browser-compatible interface unit 105 of thesearch engine 103 receives the keyword from the search-engine-compatibleinterface unit 104 of the browser 102 it actuates the search engine 103and sets the keyword in a keyword-entry item of the search engine 103(S751). Herein, the browser-compatible interface unit 105, although itis a part of the application for the search engine 103, always staysresident on the terminal unit 203 and also plays a role as a trigger toactuate the main system of the search engine 103 when the keyword istransferred from the search engine 103.

When the keyword is set in step S751, the search engine 103 executes asearch operation with the set keyword (S752).

Then, the browser-compatible interface unit 105 prepares a list for apop-up menu from a search result with the keyword (S753), and transfersthe prepared list to the browser 102 (S754). It should be noted thatdocument names having been searched and URLs (addresses) for thosedocuments are described in this list.

When the search-engine-compatible interface unit 104 of the browser 102receives a list from the browser-compatible interface unit 105 itdevelops the list to a hypertext and overwrites (displays) the list in aspace adjacent to the keyword of the original document as a pop-up menu(S708).

When the user identifies a desired document out of the pop-up menuthrough the mouse operation, the search-engine-compatible interface unit104 notifies the URL (identification of the document) of thecorresponding document described in the list to the browser 102 (S709).The browser 102 accesses the database 101 (Web server 201) with adocument in the linked address stored therein according to the URL, andrequests the database 101 to transfer the source code of thecorresponding document (S710).

The database 101 having received the request from the browser 102 totransfer the source code transfers the source code of the correspondingdocument to the browser 102 (S791).

When the browser 102 receives the source code it develops the code to ahypertext document or a non-hypertext document (application document),and displays either of the documents on the screen (S711).

In accordance with Embodiment 3 as described above, in addition to thesame effect as that in Embodiment 1, a document file has a word tableprepared by previously cutting out words included in the document file,and the search-engine-compatible interface unit selects, in the documentdisplayed on the screen, a plurality of expanded character strings eachobtained by adding characters or character strings before and after acharacter pointed by a cursor thereto, compares the selected strings tothe words in the word table to evaluate the strings, and identifies anoptimal word which can be assumed as the one being pointed by the cursoras a keyword to be used in the search engine, therefore a word as akeyword can accurately and efficiently be identified.

The document information management system according to Embodiment 4concretely shows another example of a function for identifying a wordpreferable to the document information management system according tothe present invention. It should be noted that the basic configurationand the operation thereof are the same as those in Embodiment 1, so thatdetailed description is made herein only for the different sections.

In the document information management system according to Embodiment 4,a hypertext document handled in the system has a dummy button obtainedby previously cutting out a word included in the document and setting atarget for linking the word thereto as particular address informationfor responding to actuation of the search engine provided therein.Further, the search-engine-compatible interface unit identifies, whenthe dummy button is pointed by the cursor, a word corresponding to thedummy button as a keyword to be used in the search engine, and alsoactuates the search engine according to the URL for the dummy button.

Thus, the hypertext document handled in Embodiment 4 has a previouslyset dummy button. It should be noted that any word having been set as anordinary button in a hypertext document is not set as a dummy button,but all the main words other than the button therein are set as dummybuttons. A linked URL of this dummy button is set in the search engine103 or in a common particular URL.

The setting and preparation of this dummy button is carried out asfollows with terminal units 202, 203 and the Web server 201 connected toa network Net. At first, a word is cut out of a document registered anewby using a technique such as morpheme analysis at the point of time whena prepared document is registered or during the time zone such as nighttime when the document information management system is not used, then,the cut-out word is identified as a dummy button, the linked URL thereofis set, the dummy button is added to the original document file, and therewritten data is registered.

The processing as described above is always carried out, which allowsdummy buttons to be added to all the hypertext documents existing in thedocument information management system according to Embodiment 4.

Description is made for the operation based on the configurationdescribed above with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 shows a schematicflow chart of the document information management system according toEmbodiment 4. In Embodiment 4, when a dummy button is identified by thebrowser 102, the browser-compatible interface unit 105 actuates thesearch engine 103, and a search with the keyword is started.

At first, the browser 102 displays a document on the screen (S1001). Thesearch-engine-compatible interface unit 104 starts its operation in thisstate.

When a dummy button is identified (specified) through a mouse operationof the terminal unit 202 (S1002), the search-engine-compatible interfaceunit 104 accesses to the linked URL set in the dummy button (S1003),transfers the character string (word) for the dummy button to the linkedlocation as a keyword (S1004), and displays the identified dummy button(keyword) on the screen (S1005). It should be noted that a keyword isprovided in a reverse video or is underlined so that it can bedistinguished from the button and other words in a hypertext.

On the other hand, when the access is made from thesearch-engine-compatible interface unit 104 of the browser 102 in stepS1003, the browser-compatible interface unit 105 of the search engine103 actuates the search engine 103 (S1051), recognizes the keyword whenit receives the keyword from the search-engine-compatible interface unit104 in step S1004 and sets the keyword in a keyword-entry item of thesearch engine 103 (S1052). Herein, the browser-compatible interface unit105, although it is a part of the application for the search engine 103,always stays resident on the terminal unit 203 and also plays a role asa trigger to actuate the main system of the search engine 103 when thekeyword is transferred from the search engine 103.

When the keyword is set in step S1052, the search engine 103 executes asearch operation with the set keyword (S1053).

Then, the browser-compatible interface unit 105 prepares a list for apop-up menu from a search result with the keyword (S1054), and transfersthe prepared list to the browser 102 (S1055). It should be noted thatdocument names having been searched and URLs (addresses) for thosedocuments are described in this list.

When the search-engine-compatible interface unit 104 of the browser 102receives a list from the browser-compatible interface unit 105 itdevelops the list to a hypertext and overwrites (displays) the list in aspace adjacent to the keyword of the original document as a pop-up menu(S1006).

When the user identifies a desired document out of the pop-up menuthrough the mouse operation, the search-engine-compatible interface unit104 notifies the URL (identification of the document) of thecorresponding document described in the list to the browser 102 (S1007).The browser 102 accesses the database 101 (Web server 201) with adocument in the linked address stored therein according to the URL, andrequests the database to transfer the source code of the correspondingdocument (S1008).

The database 101 having received the request from the browser 102 totransfer the source code transfers the source code of the correspondingdocument to the browser 102 (S1091).

When the browser 102 receives the source code it develops the code to ahypertext document or a non-hypertext document (application document),and displays either of the documents on the screen (S1009).

In accordance with Embodiment 4 as described above, in addition to thesame effect as that in Embodiment 1, a hypertext document has a dummybutton obtained by previously cutting out a word included in thedocument and setting the linked address of the word as particularaddress information (URL) for responding to actuation of the searchengine, therefore a word as a keyword can efficiently be identified andalso a search engine can easily be actuated.

Embodiment 5 shows another example of a function for identifying a wordpreferable to the document information management system according tothe present invention, and a search engine-compatible interface unitcuts out, in a document displayed on the screen, a character string froma header character to an end character indicated by the cursor as aword, and identifies the cut-out word as a keyword to be used in thesearch engine. It should be noted that the basic configuration and theoperation thereof are the same as those in Embodiment 1, so thatdescription is made herein only for a method of identifying a word bythe search-engine-compatible interface unit 104.

FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B are explanatory views showing how a word isidentified by the search-engine-compatible interface unit 104 accordingto Embodiment 5. The search-engine-compatible interface unit 104detects, as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, a first position 1101 and asecond position 1102 of the cursor in the document on the screen of thebrowser 102, cuts out a character string from the character at the firstposition 1101 to the character at the second position 1102 as aspecified word, and sets the word as an identified word 1103.

More specifically, a method of clicking ON a mouse button at the firstposition 1101 and clicking OFF the mouse button at the second position1102 and a method of clicking the mouse button at the first position1101 and again clicking the mouse button at the second position 1102 maybe used. Also identification of a word is performed, for example, byclicking the second mouse button in order to differentiate the aboveprocessing from processing of the hypertext document. Further, theidentified word is provided in a reverse video or is underlined.

In accordance with Embodiment 5 as described above, there is no need tohave a particular document structure, therefore an existing hypertextdocument or a non-hypertext document (application document) can be usedas it is. In addition, a word as a keyword can efficiently beidentified.

In the document information management system according to Embodiment 6,the search-engine-compatible interface unit cuts out, in the documentdisplayed on the screen, an optimal word through evaluation of anexpanded character string obtained by adding characters or characterstrings before and behind a character pointed by a cursor thereto byusing a word cut-out technique such as morpheme analysis, and identifiesthe cut-out word as a keyword to be used in the search engine.

It should be noted that the basic configuration and the operationthereof are the same as the document information management systemaccording to Embodiment 3, so that description is made herein only forthe different sections.

FIG. 12 shows a schematic flow chart of the document informationmanagement system according to Embodiment 6, in which step S1201 isprovided in place of step S704 of the schematic flow chart in Embodiment3 shown in FIG. 7, and the other steps are the same as those inEmbodiment 3.

When a character is identified (specified) through a mouse operation ofthe terminal unit 202 (S702), the search-engine-compatible interfaceunit 104 cuts out a character string obtained by adding some charactersbefore and after the character thereto (adjacent character string)(S703), cuts out a word through morpheme analysis of the cut-outcharacter string for evaluation (S1201), and identifies an optimal word(S705).

Herein, the adjacent character string cut-out in step S703 is asfollows: “when a plurality of buttons are marked, a plurality of pagesare outputted onto the display or to the printer.” as indicated by thereference numeral 703A in FIG. 12. When this adjacent character stringis subjected to the morpheme analysis, the word “MARK” can be identifiedas indicated by the reference numeral 705A in FIG. 12.

In accordance with Embodiment 5 as described above, thesearch-engine-compatible interface unit 104 cuts out an optimal wordthrough evaluation of a character string by using a word cut-outtechnique such as morpheme analysis, and identifies the cut-out word asa keyword to be used in the search engine, therefore a word as a keywordcan accurately and efficiently be identified.

The document information management system according to Embodiment 7enables entry of search criteria and output criteria much more ascompared to those in Embodiment 1 to Embodiment 6. It should be notedthat the basic configuration is the same as that of Embodiment 1, sothat description is made herein only for the different sections.

In the document information management system according to Embodiment 7,the search-engine-compatible interface unit 104 displays a menu forspecifying search criteria and output criteria for the search engine 103in a space adjacent to the specified word, and performs a search andoutput according to the specified word as well as to the menu itemsspecified by the cursor.

Description is made for the operation based on the configurationdescribed above with reference to FIG. 13. FIG. 13 shows a schematicflow chart of the document information management system according toEmbodiment 7. In Embodiment 7, when a keyword is identified by thebrowser 102, the browser-compatible interface unit 105 actuates thesearch engine 103, and a search with the keyword is started.

At first, the browser 102 displays a document on the screen (S1301). Thesearch-engine-compatible interface unit 104 starts its operation in thisstate.

When a word is identified (specified) through a mouse operation of theterminal unit 202 (S1302), the search-engine-compatible interface unit104 recognizes, the word as a keyword (S1303), and displays therecognized keyword on the screen (S1304).

Then, a pop-up menu for specifying search criteria as well as outputcriteria is overwritten and displayed adjacent to the recognized keyword(S1305). More specifically, as shown in FIG. 14, when the keyword 1401(for example, “LINKED”) is displayed, the pop-up menu for the searchcriteria as well as output criteria is displayed adjacent to thecorresponding keyword. By clicking on a desired character on this pop-upmenu (not shown), the corresponding item can be selected. In the searchcriteria, it is possible to specify a category and a type of DB(database to be searched), and in the output criteria, it is possible tospecify output of related information and data for the relatedinformation and also specify a target to be outputted of data (a deviceto which the data is outputted).

When the search criteria and output criteria are identified through themouse operation described later in step S1306, thesearch-engine-compatible interface unit 104 transfers the recognizedkeyword and the identified search criteria to the search engine 103(S1307).

On the other hand, when the browser-compatible interface unit 105 of thesearch engine 103 receives a keyword from the search-engine-compatibleinterface unit 104 of the browser 102 it actuates the search engine 103and sets the keyword for the search engine 103 and the search criteriaas well as output criteria therein (S1351). Herein, thebrowser-compatible interface unit 105, although it is a part of theapplication for the search engine 103, always stays resident on theterminal unit 203 and also plays a role as a trigger to actuate the mainsystem of the search engine 103 when the keyword is transferred from thesearch engine 103.

When the keyword and the search criteria as well as output criteria areset in step S1351, the search engine 103 executes a search operationwith the set keyword and search criteria as well as output criteria(S1352).

Then, the browser-compatible interface unit 105 determines whetheroutput of data for related information is specified as an outputcriterion or not (S1353). Herein, when it is determined that the outputof data for related information is set, the browser-compatible interfaceunit 105 prepares a list for a pop-up menu from a keyword-search result(S1355), and transfers the prepared list to the browser 102 (S1356).When it is determined that the output of data for related information isnot set, the browser-compatible interface unit 105 transfers only theURL for the related information to the browser 102 (S1354).

When the search-engine-compatible interface unit 104 of the browser 102receives a list from the browser-compatible interface unit 105 itdevelops the list to a hypertext and overwrites (displays) the list in aspace adjacent to the keyword of the original document as a pop-up menu(S1308).

When the user identifies a desired document out of the pop-up menuthrough the mouse operation, the search-engine-compatible interface unit104 notifies the URL (identification of the document) of thecorresponding document described in the list to the browser 102 (S1309).The browser 102 accesses the database 101 (Web server 201) with adocument in the linked address stored therein according to the URL, andrequests the database 101 to transfer the source code of thecorresponding document (S1310). Similarly, when the browser 102 receivesthe URL for the related information from the browser-compatibleinterface unit 105 it accesses the database 101 (Web server 201) with adocument in the linked address stored there in according to the URL, andrequests the database 101 to transfer the source code of thecorresponding document.

The database 101 having received the request from the browser 102 totransfer the source code transfers the source code of the correspondingdocument to the browser 102 (S1391).

When the browser 102 receives the source code it develops the code to ahypertext document or a non-hypertext document (application document),and displays either of the documents on the screen (S1311).

Next, description is made more specifically for a method of specifying(identifying) search criteria as well as output criteria through a mouseoperation with reference to FIG. 14 to FIG. 18.

Specification of the search criteria as well as output criteria isperformed, for example, by clicking the second mouse button in order todifferentiate the above processing from processing of the hypertextdocument. The specified word is provided in a reverse video or isunderlined.

As the search criteria, a simple search equation can be used. Forexample, OR search does not require a search equation while an ANDsearch is performed through the operation described below. At first, itis assumed, as shown in FIG. 14, that the criteria indicated by thepop-up menu 1402 are set for the keyword 1401 and the criteria (default)indicated by the pop-up menu 1404 are set for the keyword 1403. In thisstatus, the cursor is pointed to the keyword 1403 having been specifiedand the second mouse button is clicked ON, and the cursor is moved tothe keyword 1405 which is not specified yet and the second mouse buttonis clicked OFF, and then an AND sign “∩” is generated over the keyword1403 to the keyword 1405. At this point of time, the same contents asthose of the pop-up menu 1404 are displayed as a pop-up menu 1406. Itshould be noted that only the pop-up menu 1404 may be displayed for theAND search.

As some other method, the cursor is pointed to the keyword 1403 havingbeen specified and the second mouse button is clicked ON, and the cursoris moved to the keyword 1405 which is not specified yet and the secondmouse button is clicked OFF, and then the keyword 1403 is moved to theposition of the keyword 1405 and automatically returned to the originalposition as soon as the second mouse button is clicked OFF (drag &drop), and the AND sign “∩” is generated over the keyword 1403 to thekeyword 1405. At this point of time, the same contents as those of thepop-up menu 1404 are displayed as the pop-up menu 1406.

Some other search criteria as well as output criteria are also specifiedby clicking thereon. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, “Relatedinformation, DB2, Category C, Display” is specified in the pop-up menu1404 of the AND search for the keyword 1403 and keyword 1405. Thisspecification indicates “AND of the two keywords is searched in thecategory C of the DB2, and the data for related information is outputtedto the display (during its specification)”. The specified searchcriteria as well as output criteria is displayed like the pop-up menu1402 for the keyword 1401. It should be noted that the pop-up menu 1402indicates “One keyword is searched in the category A of the databaseDB1, and the related information is outputted to the printer 1 (afterits specification)”.

When the contents of a pop-up menu (search criteria and output criteria)having been specified once is to be corrected, the cursor is pointed tothe pop-up menu having been specified and the second mouse button isclicked, and then the pop-up menu is displayed again, on whichspecification can be carried out again.

Then, as shown in FIG. 16, when the cursor is pointed to the “EXECUTE”button 1601 on the screen and the second mouse button is clicked,execution of a search is instructed, and the criteria therefor areidentified in step S1306 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 17 shows an example of how the mouse is operated when a target tobe outputted of data for related information is to be specified. Asshown in steps S1355, S1356 of FIG. 13, the browser-compatible interfaceunit 105 of the search engine 103 transfers a search result as a listfor a pop-up menu to the search-engine-compatible interface unit 104 ofthe browser 102. The search-engine-compatible interface unit 104develops the list to a hypertext, and overwrites and displays the listin a space adjacent to the original keyword as a pop-up menu 1701. Thedata for related information (such as a title and summary) is displayedin some space adjacent to the keyword as the pop-up menu 1701 asdescribed above, and when the cursor is pointed to a desired data forrelated information on the pop-up menu 1701 and the second mouse buttonis clicked thereon, a pop-up menu 1801 for output criteria is displayedas shown in FIG. 18. A target to be outputted (printer 2 herein) of datacan be specified by pointing the cursor to an item for the outputcriteria and clicking the second mouse button thereon.

It should be noted that the search criteria and output criteria shown inFIG. 14 to FIG. 18 are set as required, therefore items are not limitedto the items described above. It is not always necessary to use all theitems described above. Namely, only items required for each documentinformation management system discretely constructed may be used.

In accordance with Embodiment 5 as described above, in addition to thesame effect as that in Embodiment 1, the search-engine-compatibleinterface unit displays a menu for specifying search criteria and outputcriteria for the search engine in a space adjacent to a specified word,and performs a search and output according to the specified word as wellas to the menu items specified by the cursor, so that workability andconvenience for the user can further be improved.

As described above, in the document information management systemaccording to the present invention, the search-engine-compatibleinterface unit makes a word in a document displayed on the screen to bespecified, transfers the specified word to a search engine as a keywordto be used in the search engine, receives a search result from thesearch engine, and displays the search result on the screen, and thebrowser-compatible interface unit performs a search by using the keywordtransferred from a browser and transfers a search result to the browser,so that, by performing a search (a keyword search and/or a globalsearch) with a word which is not liked to any document as a keywordthrough a clicking operation on the word, and enabling jumping from theclicked word to a page as an object to be searched like that with abutton of a hypertext, it is possible to improve convenience in documentinformation management as well as in a document search, operability of akeyword search, and further workability when a search is performedthrough a hypertext.

In the document information management system according to anotheraspect of the present invention, a list for a pop-up menu is preparedfrom a keyword-search result and the pop-up menu is displayed on thescreen, so that workability and convenience for the user can further beimproved.

In the document information management system according to anotheraspect of the present invention, a search-engine-compatible interfaceunit makes a word in a document displayed on the screen to be specified,actuates a search engine and make the engine perform a search with thespecified word as a keyword to be used in the search engine, receives asearch result from the search engine and displays the result on thescreen, so that, by performing a search with a word which is not likedto any document as a keyword through a clicking operation on the word,and enabling jumping from the clicked word to a page as an object to besearched like that with a button of a hypertext, it is possible toimprove convenience in document information management as well as in adocument search, operability of a keyword search, and furtherworkability when a search is performed through a hypertext.

In the document information management system according to anotheraspect of the present invention, a document file has a word tableprepared by previously cutting out words included in the document file,so that a word as a keyword can efficiently be identified.

In the document information management system according to anotheraspect of the present invention, a hypertext document has a dummy buttonobtained by previously cutting out a word included in the document andsetting a linked target of the word as a particular address informationfor responding to actuation of the search engine, so that a word as akeyword can efficiently be identified and also a search engine caneasily be actuated.

In the document information management system according to anotheraspect of the present invention, a search-engine-compatible interfaceunit cuts out, in the document displayed on the screen, a characterstring from a header character to an end character pointed by a cursoras a word, and identifies the cut-out word as a keyword to be used inthe search engine, so that a word as a keyword can efficiently beidentified.

In the document information management system according to anotheraspect of the present invention, a search-engine-compatible interfaceunit evaluates, in the document displayed on the screen, an expandedcharacter string obtained by adding characters or character stringsbefore and after a character pointed by a cursor thereto based on a wordcut-out technology such as morpheme analysis, cuts out an optimal word,and identifies the cut-out word as a keyword to be used in the searchengine, so that a word as a keyword can accurately and efficiently beidentified.

In the document information management system according to anotheraspect of the present invention, a document file has a word tableprepared by previously cutting out words included in the document file,and a search-engine-compatible interface unit selects, in the documentdisplayed on the screen, a plurality of expanded character strings eachobtained by adding characters or character strings before and behind acharacter pointed by a cursor thereto, compares the selected strings tothe words in the word table to evaluate the strings, and identifies anoptimal word as if the word is pointed by the cursor as a keyword to beused in the search engine, so that a word as a keyword can accuratelyand efficiently be identified.

In the document information management system according to anotheraspect of the present invention, a hypertext document has a dummy buttonobtained by previously evaluating a word included in the document basedon a word cut-out technology such as morpheme analysis, cutting out theword, and setting a linked target of the word as a particular URL forresponding to actuation of a search engine, and asearch-engine-compatible interface unit identifies, when the dummybutton is pointed by the cursor, a word corresponding to the dummybutton as a keyword to be used in the search engine, and also actuatesthe search engine according to the URL for the dummy button, so that aword as a keyword can accurately and efficiently be identified, and alsoa search engine can easily be actuated.

In the document information management system according to anotheraspect of the present invention, a search-engine-compatible interfaceunit displays a menu for specifying search criteria and output criteriafor a search engine in a space adjacent to a specified word, andperforms a search and output according to the specified word as well asto the menu items specified by the cursor, so that workability andconvenience for the user can further be improved.

In the document information management system according to anotheraspect of the present invention, databases or the filing units are Webservers connected to each other through the Internet or an intranet, sothat information can be collected from a wide range thereof through theInternet or the intranet.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a specificembodiment for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims arenot to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying allmodifications and alternative constructions that may occur to oneskilled in the art which fairly fall within the basic teaching hereinset forth.

What is claimed is:
 1. A search support system that is connectable to auser terminal through a network and supports a search when the userterminal causes a search engine to search a large indefinite number ofdocuments on the network, the search support system comprising: aprocessing circuit configured to prepare a dummy button in whichdesignation information designating a particular search engine and asearch key to be used in the particular search engine are set, so thatthe search key is transmitted to the particular search engine, and theparticular search engine is caused to perform a search, and to add theprepared dummy button to a predetermined document prior to performingthe search using the search key; a memory to store therein the documentto which the dummy button is added; and a transmitter to transmit thedocument to the user terminal by retrieving the document from the memoryin response to a transmission request from the user terminal.
 2. Thesearch support system according to claim 1, wherein the processingcircuit is further configured to prepare a plurality of dummy buttons inwhich common designation information is set, and to add the prepareddummy buttons to the predetermined document.
 3. The search supportsystem according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configuredto prepare the dummy button in which a uniform resource locator (URL) ofthe search engine is set as the designation information.
 4. A methodperformed by a search support system that is connectable to a userterminal through a network and supports a search when the user terminalcauses a search engine to search a large indefinite number of documentson the network, the search support method comprising: preparing a dummybutton in which designation information designating a particular searchengine and a search key to be used in the particular search engine areset prior to performing the search using the search key, so that thesearch key is transmitted to the particular search engine, and theparticular search engine is caused to perform a search; adding theprepared dummy button to a predetermined document; storing, in a memory,the document to which the dummy button is added; and transmitting thedocument to the user terminal by retrieving the document from the memoryin response to a transmission request from the user terminal.
 5. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructionsthat, when executed by a processing circuit that is connectable to auser terminal through a network and supports a search when the userterminal causes a search engine to search a large indefinite number ofdocuments on the network, causes the processing circuit to perform amethod, comprising: preparing a dummy button in which designationinformation designating a particular search engine and a search key tobe used in the particular search engine are set prior to performing thesearch using the search key, so that the search key is transmitted tothe particular search engine, and the particular search engine is causedto perform a search; adding the prepared dummy button to a predetermineddocument; storing, in a memory, the document to which the dummy buttonis added; and transmitting the document to the user terminal byretrieving the document from the memory in response to a transmissionrequest from the user terminal.